Indexer arrangement in an apparatus for making detachable link chain



P" 8, 1969 D. M. GLENDENNING 3,

INDEXER ARRANGEMENT IN AN APPARATUS FOR MAKING DETACHABLE LINK CHAIN Filed Aug. 18, 1966 Sheet of 2 SPECIAL LINK INVENTOR April 8, 1969 M. GLEND NlNG 3,436,906 INDEXE RRANGEMENT AN APPARATUS FOR MAKING DETACHABLE LINK CHAIN Filed Aug. 18, 1966 Sheet 2 of2 llnlllm m INVENTOR ATTORNEY-5 US. Cl. 59-6 United States ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE An apparatus for making detactable link chains including a punch and die for progressively forming stock passing therethrough, and wherein an index chain is actuated by the press and periodically interrupts the feed mechanism at predetermined numbers of links to enable special links to be inserted therein.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for making detachable link chain from steel stock, and more particularly to an indexer arrangement for periodically stopping the feeding of stock to permit the insertion of a special link of chain before the start of the regular cycle.

In order to manufacture detachable link chain, steel stock is fed into a punch press which progressively forms the stock passing therethrough into the interconnected links of the chain. The feed mechanism feeds the stock in steps so that between feeding operations, the punch acts upon the stock within the press. The completed chain is withdrawn from the press by an assembler unit which grips the chain links and withdraws the chain between each operating cycle of the press.

In the chain thus formed, all of the links are identical. However, it is occasionally desired to insert special links in the chain spaced at a predetermined number of chain links. To accomplish this, the feed mechanism must be periodically halted and the operator must insert the spe cial link during this interruption of the feed process. Numerous arrangements have been devised for periodically stopping the feeding of the stock according to a predetermined pattern but all such known arrangements are unsatisfactory since they lack flexibility. With such known arrangements, it is difiicult and time-consuming to change the pattern of stopping the feed mechanism once the arrangement has been set up.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved indexing arrangement in an apparatus for the making of detactable link chain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple yet effective arrangement for periodically stopping the feeding of stock to an apparatus for making detachable link chain according to a predetermined pattern.

The invention may be readily incorporated on known apparatus for the making of detachable link chain. Such apparatus essentially comprises a press having a reciprocating punch which, together with a mating die, progressively forms the chain links. A feed mechanism is positioned at the entrance side of the 'press for progressively introducing stock into the press. A pneumatic cylinder is provided to interrupt the feed mechanism when the cylinder is actuated. This interruption is achieved by the cylinder piston rod engaging a portion of the feed mechanism. At the other or exit end of the press, there is provided an assembler for withdrawing the chain from the press. Mounted on the press is an indexer means which comprises a master endless chain having indexing members spacedly positioned thereon. The master chain is moved stepwise by a ratchet and pawl mechanism actuated by each downward stroke of the punch. A switch is atent C i mounted so as to be operated by the indexing members of the indexer chain and is connected to the pneumatic cylinder so that operation of the switch will actuate the cylinder to interrupt the feed mechanism. Thus, the stopping of the feed mechanism will 'depend upon the arrangement of the indexing members on the master indexer chain.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying description and drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the forming dies, grip knife and interrupter assembly and indexer according to the present invention, with the dies being shown in vertical section;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a strip of metal in the process of being formed into a chain by the forming dies of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing the punch of the forming dies in its raised position prior to beginning a work stroke;

FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view of a special link which is to be inserted into the chain;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the chain formed according to the apparatus of the present invention, showing a special link in position;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the master indexer mechamsm;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the master indexer chain arrangement, the lower portion of the view being in section and taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIG. 6 and showing the brake; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the feed mechanism, with the pneumatic cylinder and interrupter, portions of the feed mechanism being in section for clarity.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference symbols indicate the same parts throughout the various views, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

As seen in FIG. 1, the press indicated generally at 10 comprises a punch 11 and dies 12. A plurality of forming dies are cooperatively positioned in the punch and die so as to progressively form steel stock 13 into detachable links of a chain. The stock "13 is in the form of a long, narrow steel ribbon and is fed stepwise into the press by grip knife and interrupter assembly 14 which is illustrated in detail in FIG. 9.

The feed mechanism comprises a slide 15 which is slidably mounted on gibs indicated at 16. The movement of the stock is achieved by a lower grip knife 17 mounted on the slide 15 and an upper grip knife 18 mounted on grip lever 19 which is pivotally mounted on grip lever pin 20. Extending rearwardly is grip lobe 21. The upper portion of the grip lever 19 is connected by pin 22 to a clevis 23 which is secured to one end of a connecting rod 24. While not shown in the drawing, the connecting rod 24 is reciprocated by means of an operative connection with the crank shaft of the press.

Positioned adjacent the feed mechanism is a pneumatic cylinder 25 having a rod 26 which, when extended, engages the top surface of the grip lobe 21 to stop the grip lever from rotation and to lock the upper grip knife above the stock as shown in FIG. 9.

The pneumatic cylinder 25 is actuated through a suitable valve 27.

The indexer arrangement according to the invention comprises a master indexer chain 28 comprising a plurality of chain links 29 and having indexing members 30 spacedly mounted therebetween according to a predetermined pattern. In a manner to be presently described, the

3 master-indexer chain moves through a distance of one link for each cycle of the press. At the same time, the amount of steel stock moved with each stroke of the fed mechanism is approximately that required to form one link of the chain.

The indexer chain 28 is mounted upon a freely journaled sprocket 31 and a second sprocket 32 which latter is fixedly mounted on shaft 33. The shaft 33 is journaled in bearing blocks 34 and has keyed to its other end a ratchet gear 35. Also mounted on this end of the shaft 33 is a block 36 upon which is pivotally mounted, on a pin 37, a pawl 38 which is engageable with the ratchet gear 35. A tension spring 39 is attached to the block 36 and urges the block upwardly as shown in FIG. 7.

The block 36 is pivoted to its lower position as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines 36 by rod 40 which is attached to the ram of the press. The movement of rod 40 to its lowermost position rotates the ratchet 35 through a distance of one tooth for each stroke of the press.

On the central portion of the shaft 33 there is provided a brake 41. Brake 41 comprises brake drum 42 keyed to the shaft 33 with a brake lining 43 being mounted on the inner surface of brake band 44. The brake band is held under tension by spring 45. The spring is provided actuate a switch 46 by engaging switch arm 47 having a roll 48 on the outer end thereof. The switch 46 is connected to the pneumatic cylinder valve 27 and is connected so that actuation of the switch arm 47 will energize valve 27 to actuate pneumatic cylinder 25.

To facilitate an understanding of the invention, the operation of the apparatus disclosed herein together with the functioning of the indexing arrangement will be described. I

The three principal phases involved in the making of detachable link chain are the feeding, the forming in the punch and die, and the assembly.

To initiate the process, the steel strip stock is taken from the coil and, as indicated at 13, is introduced into the feed mechanism comprising the grip and interrupter assembly 14. While not disclosed since it is not necessary for an understanding of the invention, the feed mechanism also includes a system of rollers into which the strip is first inserted in order to straighten and align the strip by flattening any irregularities therein.

The stock 13 is then advanced through the feed mechanism until it is forced between the upper grip knife 18 and the lower grip knife 17, as seen in FIG. 9. With the press in operation, the connecting rod 24 moves to the left for the first feed stroke. The grip lever 19 is pushed to the left around the axis formed by the grip lever pin 20. This action causes the upper grip knife 18 to bite into the upper surface of the stock 13 which is supported by the lower grip knife 17. When the pressure of the knives on the stock is sufficient to stop the movement of the grip lever, the slide 15 moves to the left, carrying with it the stock 13.

At the termination of the stroke, the connecting rod movement is reversed. This pulls the grip lever 19 to the right which in turn lifts the upper grip knife away from the stock. As the grip lever 19 turns: in a clockwise direction, it comes in contact with the frame of the slide 15. The movement of the connecting rod 24 is now transmitted to the slide, causing the slide to move to the right and thus permitting the stock to remain in its advanced position.

The stock is progressively advanced in this manner by a distance sutlicient to provide steel stock to form one link of the chain. As the stock is progressively advanced to the press 10, the various dies therein progressively form the stock into the chain links as seen in FIG. 2.

4 The process for forming the stock into chain is disclosed in further detail in U.S. Patent 1,107,809 issued Aug. 18, 1914.

The completed chain is Withdrawn from the left hand side of the punch 10, as viewed in FIG. 1, by the assembler apparatus (not shown).

In order to insert a special link such as shown in FIG. 4, it has been found that the most effective procedure is for the movement of the stock to be stopped and the special link inserted into its appropriate position in the chain by the operator. In order to stop the movement of the stock, the interrupter comprising the pneumatic cylinder 25 and its rod 26 is actuated to engage the grip lobe 21 so as to prevent the upper grip knife 18 from biting into the stock. Consequently, the movement of the slide to the left under the action of the connecting rod 24- Will not move the stock since the lower and upper grip knives 17 and 18 will merely pass over the stock.

The pneumatic cylinder is energized when the switch 46 is actuated by the indexing members on the indexer chain 28. The indexer chain 28 is moved a distance of one chain link with each storke of the Press under the action of the rod 40 which is connected to the press platen and which actuates the pawl 38. The pawl 38 engages the ratchet gear and rotates the ratchet gear to a distance of one tooth with each stroke of the press. The indexing member 30 are then suitably spaced 0n the indexer chain in order to interrupt movement of the stock after a certain predetermined number of chain links have been formed.

To provide greater flexibility, a plurality of indexer chains may be provided with each chain having differently spaced indexer members thereon. The removal and mounting of the indexer chain is readily accomplished merely by positioning the chain over the sprockets as shown in FIG. 7.

At the interval of the cycle when a special link is required in the press, the indexer member 30 will contact the switch arm 47 to actuate the switch 46, thereby energizing pneumatic cylinder 25 to extend the rod 26 directly over the grip lobe 21. As the advancing stroke of the slide 15 begins, the grip lobe is prevented from rising because of the rod 26. Thus, the upper grip knife 18, located on the opposite side of the grip lever pin 19, remains in the raised position, causing it to pass freely over the strip.

The pause resulting from this lack of movement of the strip enables the press operator to have sufiicient time to insert the special link for the start of the regular cycle while the strip remains stationary.

Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides a master indexer chain which interrupts the feed mechanism at predetermined intervals of time in order to start movement of the strip to the press so that a special link may be inserted within the chain. This indexing arrangement is characterized by its extreme flexibility since different indexer chains can be readily mounted On the indexing structure in order to vary the spacing in the link chain being formed in which the special link is to be placed.

It is to be understood that details of the construction can be varied without departing from the spirit of the invenion, execept as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for making detachable link chains, a press having a punch and die for progressively forming stock passing through the press into detachable links of a chain, a feed mechanism for progressively introducducing stock into said press, means operatively connected to said feed mechanism for interrupting the feeding of stock into said press according to a predetermined pattern,

and an endless chain having index members thereon,

switch means associated with said endless chain and said interrupter means, said endless chain being actuated by the punch of said press to operate said switch means and said interrupter means to stop periodically said feed mechanism at predetermined number of link whereby special links may be inserted into the formed links.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 and further including switch means connected to said interrupter means to energize the same, and an endless chain having index members thereon to operate said switch means at predetermined intervals.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 and further in cluding means operatively connected to the punch of said press for progressively moving said index chain.

4. An apparatus according to claim '1 wherein said indexer means comprises a rotatably mounted shaft, a sprocket fixedly mounted on said shaft, a ratchet gear mounted on said shaft, a pawl engageable with said ratchet gear, a rod mounted on said punch and engaging said pawl during the downward movement of said punch to rotate said sprocket, an endless indexer chain driven by said sprocket and having indexing members thereon, and a switch operable by said indexer chain indexing members to actuate said interrupter means to stop periodically said feed mechanism.

5. An apparatus according to claim '4 wherein said indexing members are spaceably arranged on said indexer chain to stop said feed mechanism at predetermined intervals of time to permit the insertion of special links after a selected number of links in the link chain have been formed.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said feed mechanism comprises a pivotally mounted upper grip knife having a grip lobe, said knife being engageable with the upper surface of the stock being fed into the punch and die, said interrupter means comprising a pneumatic cylinder having a rod extending therefrom and engageable with said grip lobe to lock said upper grip knife above the stock whereby the advancing of the stock into the press is stopped, said pneumatic cylinder being connected to said indexer means so that actuation of said pneumatic cylinder in response to said indexer means will stop said feed mechanism.

7. An apparatus according to claim 4 and further including brake means on said shaft for retaining said sprocket in position while said punch rod is returning for its next stroke.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,556,538 10/1925 Parker 956 US. Cl. X.R. 59-24 10/1925 Locke 596, 

